The Penn's Grove record., 1887-02-12
TWO NEPHEWS.

AT LQ6 pdTlOI WlluOW VI q PACteJ
villa, near Walton-on- Thames, sat, one
evening at dusk, an old man and
young woman. The age OF the mar
might be some seventy; whilst his com
panion had certainly not reached nine
teen. Her beautiful, blooming face
and active, light and upright figure,
were In strong contrast with the worr
countenance and bent frame OF the cid
man, but in his eye and In the corners
Of his mouth were the indications of a
gay self.confidencs, which age and suf'
fering had damped, but not extin-
guished.
"No use looking any more, Mary u
said he, ''neither John Meade norlPetel
Finch will be here before dark. Very
hard that when a sick uncle asks two
nephewa to come and see him they
can't come at once. The duty IS simple
in the extreme only to help me to die,
and take what / choose to leave them
in my will. Poohl when 1 was a young
man, I'd have done 1t for my uncle
with the utmost celebrity, But the
worlds getting quite heartless."
"Oh, STRIP said Mary.
"And what does oh sirl' mean?''
said he, 'D'ye think l sha'nt die? l
know better. A little more and there'll
be an end of old Billy Collect, He'll
have left this dirty world for a cleaner
to the great sorrow land advantage
of his affectionate friends. Ughl give
ne e Siass of the Doctors stuff"
The girl poured some medicine into
a glass, and Collett. after having o
templated 1t for a moment with infinite
disgust, managed to get it down.
~ tell you what, Miss Mary Sutton. D
said he, 81 don't.by any means approve
of your sOh, SIR and Dear me- AID
the rest of it, when I've told you how
l hate to bs called SSH at all. Why,
you couldn't be more respectful if you
we're a charity-girl and i a beadle in a
gold.laced hat. None of your nonsense,
Mary Sutton, If you please. I've been
your lawful guardian now for six
months, and you ought to know my
likings and dislikings."
'sMy poor father often told me how
you disliked ceremony" said Mary.
"Your poor father told you quite
right, MI. Collett. Erred Sutton was
a man of talent-a capital fellow! His
only fault was a natural inability to
keep a farthing in his pocket. Poor
Fredl he loved me-I'm sure he did.
He b~equeathed me his only child-and
it isn't every friend would do that!"
"A kind AID generous protector you
have beenl"
swell, l don't know; I've tried not
- hn N hr,xfn htt I dara anu I haxya
been. Don't 1 speak roughly to you
sometimesp Haven't | given you good,
prudent. worldly advice about John
Meade, and made Eyself quite disagree
able, and like a GUARDIAN Come, con-
fess you love this penniless nephew OF
mlne.n
''Penniless, indeedp' said Mary.
"Ah, there 1t isl'' said Mr.. Collett.
Sand what business has a poor artist
TO fall In love with my ward And what
business has my ward to fall In love
with a poor artistP But that's Fred
Sutton's daughter all oyerl Haven't l
two nephewsY Why couldn't you fall
In love with the discreet one-the
thriving oneP Peter Finch-consider-
ing he's an a~ttorney-is a worthy
young man. He is industrious in the
extreme, and attends to other peoples
business only when he's paid for it. He
despises sentiment, and always looks to
the main chance. But John Meade,
my dear Mary, may spoil canvas for
ever, and not grow rich. He's all for
art, and truth, and social reform and
spiritual elevation, and the Lord knows
what. Peter Finch will ride in his
carriage and splash poor John Meade
as he trudges OF footV'
The harangue was here interrupted
by a ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter
Finch was announced. He had scarcely
taken his seat when another pull at the
bell was heard, and Mr.. John Meade
was announced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews
with a queer sort of smile, whilst they
made speeches expressive of sorrow at
the nature Of their visit. at last, stop
ping them
"Encugh, boys, enough" said he.
"Let US find some better subject TO dis
euss than the state Of an old mans
health. / want to know a little more
about you both. I haven't seen much
Of you up to the present time. and for
anything l know you may be rogues or
fools"
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under this address; but Peter Finch sat
calm and confident.
"To put a case. now" said Mr.. Col
lett, s'tLfs morning a poor wretch Of a
gardener came begging here. He could
get no work. it seems, and said he was
starving. Well, 1 knew something
about the fellow. and l believe he only
told the truth; SO l gave him a shilling
TO get rid Of him. Now Pm afraid /
did wrong. What eason had l for
giving him a shilling2 What claim had
he on meP What claim has he on any,
bodyp The value of his labor In the
market is all that a working man has a
right to; and when his labor is OF no
value. why then he must 60 wherever
else he Fan. Eh, Peterf That's my
philosophy-what do you thinkp"